MASVINGO — Former Masvingo Governor Willard Chiwewe has reportedly been embroiled in another farm wrangle hardly two weeks after he lost the battle for Ganyani Farm, which he had “grabbed” from an indigenous farmer.
Last week, Chiwewe allegedly clashed with war veterans in Chiredzi after he invaded Maranatha Farm which has been occupied by the former fighters since 2000.
Although Chiredzi War Veterans Association vice chair Tarisai Mamvura was unreachable on his mobile phone, sources and correspondence shown to NewsDay revealed that the grouping has written to Chiwewe demanding an audience with him over the issue.
“We have communicated with Chiwewe — as you can see the correspondence — trying to find an amicable solution to this problem, but he refused to come to our offices, or even communicate with us,” said a former fighter who declined to be named. “He has since taken over the farmhouse, and is on the farm.”
Chiwewe did not pick his phone when called for comment.
The former governor is smarting from losing a three-year farm dispute after he attempted to take over the 1 677-hectare Ganyani Farm located on the shores of Lake Mutirikwi.
Although he had earlier won a civil court reprieve authorising him to co-exist with the Ganyani family, the matter took a political twist after the latter petitioned President Robert Mugabe to intervene.
The Ganyani family argued that their late father, a businessman, bought the farm in the 1960s from a white owner.
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Sources said Mugabe ordered Chiwewe out of the farm arguing that it was against government policy to take over a black-owned farm.
Before that, the Masvingo Provincial Lands Committee chaired by current Masvingo Governor and Resident Minister, Titus Maluleke, had also ordered Chiwewe to vacate the farm and offered him alternative land in Mwenezi, an offer which Chiwewe allegedly snubbed.
